Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna led the Chinese New Year countdown at midnight of January 21 and the activities marking the celebration of the Chinese New Year. The New Year countdown was held at the Jones Bridge where the mayor and guests as well as a huge crowd viewed the Pyro-Musical Fireworks Display at the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Bridge in Intramuros.
The eight-minute fireworks display was also witnessed by hundreds of spectators who gathered in Chinatown to join the countdown.
Lacuna, in her speech, thanked and acknowledged the presence of Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to the Philippines Huang Xilian; Ambassador of the Philippines to Beijing, Peoples Republic of China Jaime Florocruz,; representatives from the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) among them external relations head Nelson Guevarra; third District Congressman Joel Chua; Vice Mayor John Marvin Yul Servo Nieto; city administrator Bernie Ang; Manila Chinatown Development Council headed by Willord Chua; Manila Chinatown Barangay Organization headed by Jefferson Lau; Manila-China Affairs chairman Ati Co, Manila City Councilors and department heads.
She said the occasion is important for the entire Filipino Chinese community which observes it as an event ‘to let go of all the negatives from the outgoing year and embrace all positives and fresh and attract prosperity and peace among families for the incoming year’.
“To Ambassador Xilian and Ambassador Florocruz, kindly extend our warm greetings to the people of Beijing and the entire Peoples Republic of China. As we welcome the Year of the Water Rabbit, we hope that all of us can pursue opportunity and success. We wish you and your loved ones happiness, prosperity, and good health and fortune,” Lacuna said in her speech.
The mayor also praised the Chinese-Filipinos for helping her administration succeed on many occasions and thanked them for trusting her government by setting up their residence and businesses in the city.
At 2 p.m. on Sunday, the lady mayor led the Chinese New Year’s Day celebration with a ‘Solidarity Parade’ in Chinatown, following a Dragon Boat Competition that kicked off at the Birch Tree Plaza at 8 a.m. Manila Police District (MPD) Director PBGen. Andre Dizon said that the Muelle de la Industria Bridge was closed for the said boat competition.
The Chinatown Food Festival which started January 19 continued to be held at the Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. of January 22 and the Sunday activities ended with a 6 p.m. Huaxing Arts Group Chinese Cultural Show at the Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz. (JERRY S. TAN)
